Mayor apologizes for Indian remarks

By Kathy Helms
Staff Writer

KYKOTSMOVI — Now that he has insulted nations of Native Americans across the United States, Houston's Mayor Pro Tem Michael Berry has taken a more reticent tone, apologizing to former Hopi Tribal Chairman Ivan Sidney and others in a generic e-mail.

"When I'm wrong, I'm big enough to admit it," he said, regarding comments made in his recent Houston KPRC Radio talk show. During a discussion on the issue of slavery and Native Americans, Berry said, "We need to stop wasting all this time and energy apologizing to the American Indian, which we continue to do ... "

He further remarked, "You got to be against giving welfare to the American Indians because of the fact that 200 years ago they were whipped in a war. Let's just call it what it is, they lost a war. ... We conquered them. That's history. Hello."

Sidney sent a letter last Friday requesting an apology to the Native American people and asking for equal time on Berry's show to present an American Indian perspective.

The former three-term Hopi chairman told the three-term Houston councilman and now mayor pro tem that his comments "are inaccurate, demeaning and singularly insult the history of America and the contributions of the American Indian. Although you may pride yourself on the controversial subjects presented on your radio program to increase ratings, it is not a laughing matter for us."

"The statements only serve as a mechanism that creates a wider gorge between our cultures. Your listeners deserve the opportunity to hear the truth as well as the perspective of an American Indian. I herewith request equal time on your program to address your concerns," Sidney said. "We pray for you and all mankind."

Righting wrongs
In his message of apology sent to Sidney Sunday evening, Berry said, "I'm sorry that I couldn't personally respond to your email. I received so many, I ran out of time trying to respond to each. Forgive the impersonal response, but hopefully it encapsulates my response to your particular message."

Berry said he posted comments on his blog site, http://kprcradio.com/pages/berry.html, and also included Chief BlackJack Pruett, a member of the Tejas Tribe on his show Friday, asking him to speak to some of the issues without interrupting him.

"I also spoke about this and admitted where I was wrong three times on Friday's show," he said.

"With regard to all the e-mails I've received: If your comments included insults, I took that in stride. If your comments included your personal situation, and what being an American Indian means to you, thank you for sharing that. I learned a great deal reading it.

"If your comments explained the history of Indian nation treaties, congressional actions, or particular facts related to these, thank you for this. I spent some time learning about this and found that what I assumed was, in fact, wrong. I appreciate you taking the time to write that," Berry said.

"If your comments were polite and instructive, then know that you played a part in making me learn more, and making me realize I was wrong. For that I sincerely thank you."

Berry said he loves hosting a talk radio show because it gives him an opportunity to share his ideas and to hear from listeners from all walks of life. "That exchange, sometimes confrontational, sometimes comical, often informative, and hopefully entertaining, can be magical," he said.

"While I hope listeners learn from hearing my perspective, I know for sure that I learn from them."

Piercing the veil
Berry said his three-hour morning talk show is designed to help listeners look at issues in new ways and from different angles. "Often I intentionally provoke, in an effort to push listeners to challenge ideas that may be held more by habit than reason.

"In so doing, I may say something to a disembodied audience of listeners that I wouldn't say to a person in a face-to-face meeting. I want to make people react, to pierce that veil that prevents our true thoughts from surfacing.

"Likewise, in the fast-paced spontaneous moment that is radio, I did not consider the full effects of my words," he said. "When I'm wrong, I'm big enough to admit it."

Berry said he received quite a few e-mails from listeners of American Indian descent regarding comments he made that were intended to spark a discussion on how past transgressions against American Indians are viewed as compared to those against Blacks in America.

"I intended to challenge policies, and not to demean or insult any group of people," he said. "I read every e-mail I received on the matter, and considered each in turn. Some were threatening, some were insulting, some were angry, some simply politely disagreed. Those, I consider, come with the turf of being a talk show host. I expect that.

"What bothered me was that my comments were construed as insulting and demeaning to American Indians. That was not my intention. However, I went back and reread my comments several times, and I can see how someone might come away with that idea.

"Some of the e-mails, though, pricked my conscience and forced me to think deeply about a number of matters. Most troubling were those I received from veterans of foreign wars who spoke of their love for our country, and their sacrifice and service to America," he said.

'Learning experience'
Comments Berry received also taught him more about the lives of those who consider themselves Native Americans in modern America.

"Most don't receive any governmental assistance of any kind, much less welfare. Almost none of them get any special scholarships from the government for their education. What I believed was 'governmental' assistance and scholarships is in fact tribal programs from a sovereign Indian nation.

"I do have two law degrees, but I lacked a good understanding of the constitutional law on Indian treaties and congressional action on the matter," Berry said. "I was simply wrong."

However, he added, he is not backing down from his desire to challenge people, including himself, to think outside their personal prejudices, habits, misconceptions, and tired ideas.

Berry said he has decided to treat the occasion as "a learning experience," and promised to have an American Indian expert guest on the show within the next week to discuss issues and answers. "If I had misconceptions, perhaps others do, too," he said.

"I don't think that challenging policies of our shared government as they relate to any group of people is insulting to that group or any way racist or hateful. It is a healthy part of making good public policy. What is not healthy, or productive, is hateful speech toward others. I didn't intend to engage in that, but my actions left some American Indians feeling that I did, and I should have been more careful in how I expressed myself. I regret that," Berry said.